Barbara Boxer

Barbara Boxer:The overall election contest between California Senator Barbara Boxer and Carly Fiorina has only just begun, but even in a year when the main concern of voters is the economy, is already shaping up to be a potentially vicious battle on the right to abortion.

Although Boxer has been a champion of rights groups to abortion, Fiorina has said he supports overturning Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling in 1973 that legalized abortion. And their endorsements by major groups opposed to abortion, including the California Prolife Council, and Susan B. List Anthony, helped solidify his credentials as a conservative during the primary competition.

Fiorina’s position puts it at odds with most California voters. Last year, two thirds of Californians said they opposed overturning Roe v. Wade, according to a poll by the Public Policy Institute of California. Among independents – which would be essential for offering to defeat Boxer Fiorina since Democrats outnumber Republicans in California – only 28% said they favored, completely overturning a decision of 1973.

During an interview from Washington on Tuesday, Boxer said Fiorina’s position on abortion was out of step with most voters. “She wants to be a crime, and that means that women and doctors in jail,” said Boxer. “That is so out of touch with Californians.”

On the morning of Wednesday in Anaheim, Fiorina did not directly answer a question about whether there should be criminal penalties for women and doctors in Roe v. Wade would be overturned.
But when asked about Boxer charge, she replied: “That’s a ridiculous claim.”

“I believe in the sanctity of life, but the vast majority of Californians disagree with Barbara Boxer, who believes that taxpayers should receive funding for partial birth abortion,” said Fiorina, told reporters after his speech at a Republican breakfast in Anaheim. “Barbara Boxer is really trying to change the subject. The issue in this election is jobs. The issue in this election is beyond government control.”